{
  "iso2": "za",
  "name": "South Africa",
  "region": "Africa",
  "bloc": null,
  "verified": "2026-10-17",
  "authority": {
    "name": "South African Revenue Service (SARS)",
    "url": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/"
  },
  "currency": {
    "code": "ZAR"
  },
  "rules": {
    "alcohol": {
      "status": "limit",
      "headline": "2 L wine + 1 L spirits",
      "detail": "Duty-free per adult: 2 litres of wine and 1 litre in total of spirits and other alcoholic drinks. Under-18s get no alcohol allowance.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/duties-and-taxes-for-travellers/"
    },
    "tobacco": {
      "status": "limit",
      "headline": "200 cigarettes, 20 cigars, 250 g",
      "detail": "Duty-free per adult: 200 cigarettes and 20 cigars, plus 250 g cigarette or pipe tobacco. Not for under-18s.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/duties-and-taxes-for-travellers/"
    },
    "duty_goods": {
      "status": "limit",
      "headline": "Goods up to R5,000",
      "detail": "Goods worth up to R5,000 (R25,000 from Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini) are duty-free, once per 30 days, not for trips under 48 hours.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/duties-and-taxes-for-travellers/"
    },
    "cash": {
      "status": "declare",
      "headline": "Declare currency on arrival",
      "detail": "Travellers must declare currency on arrival. Excess currency is a restricted item needing prior approval, per SARS policy SC-PA-01-06.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/arrival-in-sa/"
    },
    "meds_rx": {
      "status": "limit",
      "headline": "3 months of own treatment",
      "detail": "Personal medication is allowed for up to three months of treatment with a letter or certified prescription from a registered doctor.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/arrival-in-sa/"
    },
    "cannabis": {
      "status": "banned",
      "headline": "Narcotic drugs banned",
      "detail": "Narcotic and habit-forming drugs are prohibited in any form.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/arrival-in-sa/"
    },
    "weapons": {
      "status": "declare",
      "headline": "Firearms restricted; military arms banned",
      "detail": "Firearms and weapons need approval. Fully automatic, military and unnumbered weapons, explosives and fireworks are prohibited.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/arrival-in-sa/"
    },
    "meat_dairy": {
      "status": "declare",
      "headline": "Animal products need approval",
      "detail": "Animal products such as dairy products and animal skins are restricted and need approval from the relevant authority before import.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/arrival-in-sa/"
    },
    "plants_seeds": {
      "status": "declare",
      "headline": "Plants and plant products restricted",
      "detail": "Plants and plant products are restricted goods and may only be imported with the approval of the relevant authority.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/arrival-in-sa/"
    },
    "food_honey": {
      "status": "declare",
      "headline": "Honey is a restricted animal product",
      "detail": "Honey is named as an example of restricted animal products needing approval from the relevant authority.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/arrival-in-sa/"
    }
  },
  "gov_uk_slug": "south-africa",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Travellers (SARS Customs)",
      "url": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/",
      "kind": "both",
      "lang": "en"
    },
    {
      "title": "Arrival in SA (SARS)",
      "url": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/arrival-in-sa/",
      "kind": "inbound",
      "lang": "en"
    },
    {
      "title": "Duties and taxes for travellers (SARS)",
      "url": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/duties-and-taxes-for-travellers/",
      "kind": "inbound",
      "lang": "en"
    },
    {
      "title": "Departure from SA (SARS) - currency and valuables",
      "url": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/departure-from-sa/",
      "kind": "outbound",
      "lang": "en"
    },
    {
      "title": "Heritage objects and export permits (SAHRA / SAHRIS)",
      "url": "https://sahris.sahra.org.za/about/heritage-objects",
      "kind": "outbound",
      "lang": "en",
      "unverified": true
    },
    {
      "title": "South Africa as a party to CITES (DFFE)",
      "url": "https://www.dffe.gov.za/legislations/internationalagreementsobligations_sapartytocites",
      "kind": "outbound",
      "lang": "en",
      "unverified": true
    }
  ],
  "outbound": {
    "cash": {
      "status": "limit",
      "headline": "Up to R25,000 without SARB approval",
      "detail": "Declare all currency when leaving. Carrying more than the R25,000 allowance needs prior South African Reserve Bank authorisation; officers may search and seize currency.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/departure-from-sa/"
    },
    "duty_goods": {
      "status": "declare",
      "headline": "Declare valuables (jewellery, cameras, laptops)",
      "detail": "Residents must declare valuables such as jewellery, watches, cameras and laptops before departure and record serial numbers; keep the form to prove origin on return.",
      "source": "https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/travellers/departure-from-sa/"
    }
  }
}